Hyderabad: Refuting CM Revanth Reddy allegations on BRS govt on Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS), former irrigation minister T Harish Rao asked the Congress govt to hand over irrigation department to him for three months and he will quit the politics if he fails to provide water to farmers. He alleged that Congress govt was spreading misinformation to cover up its own failures in irrigation management.Giving a counter power point presentation (PPT) on Kaleshwaram project at Telangana Bhavan on Wednesday, Harish Rao rejected Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s claim that approvals for the Tummidihatti project had been secured during the Congress regime. He said neither the Congress governments in Maharashtra, AP nor at the Centre had secured approvals for the project despite being in power for several years.Recalling his tenure as irrigation minister, Harish Rao said Maharashtra had categorically refused permission for the project at 152 metres, even after repeated discussions involving then CM K. Chandrashekar Rao and senior leaders. He further stated that the Central Water Commission (CWC) had officially informed the government that only 102 TMC of water was available at Tummidihatti against the proposed 160 TMC.“If the CM can produce even a single official letter showing that Maharashtra approved the Tummidihatti project at 152 metres, I will immediately resign as MLA. Otherwise, Revanth Reddy should tender an apology to the people of Telangana for misleading them.”The BRS deputy leader alleged that the state govt was allowing precious Godavari waters to flow wastefully into the sea while farmers across Telangana faced drought-like conditions.“Despite nearly one lakh cusecs of floodwater flowing in the Godavari at the Sammakka Barrage, the Congress govt was lifting only 2,542 cusecs through the Devadula Lift Irrigation Scheme. Why the Congress govt is not operating the pumps at full capacity despite sufficient water availability. The water level at Sammakka Barrage is well above the operational requirement for Devadula pumps. The barrage has not collapsed. The infrastructure exists. Then why are the pumps not being switched on?” he asked.He alleged that this amounted to “criminal negligence” and accused the govt of deliberately denying irrigation water to farmers. The ex-minister said nearly 75% to 80% of tanks in the undivided Warangal district have dried up, despite abundant Godavari flows. Harish challenged the govt to hold a special assembly discussion on the Sammakka barrage and irrigation management.Kaleshwaram Was Built After Scientific StudiesHarish Rao dismissed allegations against the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project and said the project was designed only after detailed technical studies.He stated that the Central Water Commission, WAPCOS, retired engineering experts and 18 Central govt agencies had examined and approved various aspects of the project.Congress Ignoring Its Own Irrigation FailuresHarish Rao accused the Congress govt of attempting to defame Kaleshwaram while ignoring failures during its own tenure. He pointed out that although only two piers at Medigadda had developed issues during the BRS govt’s ten-year rule, several major irrigation structures had suffered damage under the Congress government, including collapse of the Sunkishala intake structure, submergence of the Vattem pump house, washout of the Peddavagu project in Khammam district and demolition of check dams in Peddapalli and Mahabubabad districts.The BRS leader said the Congress govt had been in office for nearly 31 months but had not completed even the required technical tests or initiated repair works at Medigadda. He alleged that instead of restoring the project and utilising available Godavari waters, the govt was wasting valuable water while farmers faced severe irrigation shortages.He said that nearly 7.5 TMC of water was currently available at Medigadda and questioned why the Kannapalli pumps had not been switched on.“If Kaleshwaram did not exist, where would the govt source water for the Musi River rejuvenation project?” he asked.ends/
